Stripped the rear hatch strut mounting bolts, the 12 point 8MM bit part. I , like a fool, thought it was a T40 8 point bit not the 8mm 12 point bit that it calls for. So the hole for the 12 point bit stripped. Stripped, but it was out, thank God.
I used a hack saw to cut an X shape cuts to install it with a large Phillips head screwdriver. That worked fine.
Still needed the 12 point bit for the other side. A local tool supply place had the 4 pieces . So I got them. Great place lots of new and old tools and just some great used junk. Williams Tool in Ft. Worth

Stopped by the local used parts junk dealer, on a whim, and asked if they had a wagon. "Nope", was the reply. Decided to look for other things and there WAS a 78-79 wagon. Asked the parts guy and he though I said an "80" wagon. I actually said a "80'S" wagon. So off to the car for tools. Just bought the 12 point bit set. Well, I remove the rear speaker panel and the bolts in this wagon were 8 MM ALLEN. Figured I would come buy in the morning to get them, Probably not a big run on the strut mount bolt. Realized the 12 point bit is 8MM Allen at the base so I used it to remove one bolt. The other one, the owner must have stripped. Could not get it out for anything.
The yard owner was great, asked if he could hold it since I only had $1 in my pocket. He said "no charge". The Mercedes dealer wants $27 for the bolt. So tomorrow I replace the bad bolt and since I have the 12 point tool, I'll finish the job.

Can't figure out why Mercedes changed from the "normal 8MM Allen wrench" to the hard to find 12 point 8MM bolt????????????

One final item, I think I need new rear speakers, the flexible membrane around the main cone, well I don't have ANY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But I do have a pair of 4 inch speakers ready to go.

Stripped the rear hatch strut mounting bolts, the 12 point 8MM bit part. I , like a fool, thought it was a T40 8 point bit not the 8mm 12 point bit that it calls for. So the hole for the 12 point bit stripped. Stripped, but it was out, thank God.
I used a hack saw to cut an X shape cuts to install it with a large Phillips head screwdriver. That worked fine.
Still needed the 12 point bit for the other side. A local tool supply place had the 4 pieces . So I got them. Great place lots of new and old tools and just some great used junk. Williams Tool in Ft. Worth

Stopped by the local used parts junk dealer, on a whim, and asked if they had a wagon. "Nope", was the reply. Decided to look for other things and there WAS a 78-79 wagon. Asked the parts guy and he though I said an "80" wagon. I actually said a "80'S" wagon. So off to the car for tools. Just bought the 12 point bit set. Well, I remove the rear speaker panel and the bolts in this wagon were 8 MM ALLEN. Figured I would come buy in the morning to get them, Probably not a big run on the strut mount bolt. Realized the 12 point bit is 8MM Allen at the base so I used it to remove one bolt. The other one, the owner must have stripped. Could not get it out for anything.
The yard owner was great, asked if he could hold it since I only had $1 in my pocket. He said "no charge". The Mercedes dealer wants $27 for the bolt. So tomorrow I replace the bad bolt and since I have the 12 point tool, I'll finish the job.

Can't figure out why Mercedes changed from the "normal 8MM Allen wrench" to the hard to find 12 point 8MM bolt????????????

One final item, I think I need new rear speakers, the flexible membrane around the main cone, well I don't have ANY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But I do have a pair of 4 inch speakers ready to go.

Dave

Hey Dave,
Where in Ft Worth is this yard, if you don't mind me asking. What kind of shape was the wagon in? I have had no luck finding anything on the Dallas side of town.
You can answer here on PM me. By the way, tomorrow my wagon will have been in Colleyville for a month now. Don is having tremendous problems finding the reason for my smoke. He is frustrated with it for sure.

The wagon is so-so some good parts tranny is in the back and engine is gone. Its a 78-79 type 2 Ac system and interiors are sort of OK. Used but some can probably be used. Orient red with palomino interiors.

From Northeast mall at 820 and 183 go southeast on 121 to Carson ave. Turn south and when the road T's on Elliot Reader go west. Its the Import yard located on that road. Can't remember the name. He has 12 or so Mercedes of various years. Only 1 W123 wagon, and a W124 wagon. A couple of W123 sedans.

Dave

PS I'm going to suggest something on your car. Have the mechanic disconnect the oil separator system on the car. IF your check valve is bad as mine was. You may be sucking oil up the drain tube and burning it. Mine resulted in a leak. I think it was stuck closed. No where for the accumulated oil to go. Yours may be stuck open and allowing a small amount of oil to be sucked into the air filter. if you open the airfilter and the seperator has a good amount of an oil film then this could be the problem.

PS I'm going to suggest something on your car. Have the mechanic disconnect the oil separator system on the car. IF your check valve is bad as mine was. You may be sucking oil up the drain tube and burning it. Mine resulted in a leak. I think it was stuck closed. No where for the accumulated oil to go. Yours may be stuck open and allowing a small amount of oil to be sucked into the air filter. if you open the airfilter and the seperator has a good amount of an oil film then this could be the problem.

OK, here is a dumb question. What/where exactly is my oil separation system? I have a tube from the valve cover to the top of air cleaner, and a drip tube on bottom of air cleaner to a tube that I think goes down towards the pan. Are you saying that oil is sucked up from the oil pan?

Heres the post on the job. The tube that goes from the air filter bottom to the upper oil pan, right next to the turbo oil drain is the oil separator drain tube. Look at the post to see how to do the job.

Are you saying that the oil is getting into the intake via the vacuum tubes. Or internally in the engine??? If it is through the vacuum tubes that would be an easy check. Just pull the line to the intake and look for oil.

The Mercedes parts supplier you are thinking of is probably AAA Small Car World. The owner lives her in Colleyville and by the size of his house is doing very well.

Billy Bob's is a country and western dance hall in the old Ft Worth Stock Yards. Its about 5 miles from the place I was mentioning.

Another note. The other side of the hatch, the bolt is stripped. And I can't get it out. So I will have to drill it and use an easyout. At least I have an extra bolt now. The one I cut and used the phillips head screwdirver on works very well.

Heres the post on the job. The tube that goes from the air filter bottom to the upper oil pan, right next to the turbo oil drain is the oil separator drain tube. Look at the post to see how to do the job.

Dave

Just an fyi, I don't have a turbo, and I'm pretty sure I don't have an oil seperator based on posts I can remember here on the forum with associated pictures.
'80 wagons really seem to come with many things on them, or not on them, that are very different from other year models (not counting turbo, of course).